Vertical has just wrapped production on its latest action thriller, ‘Kalahari’. The film stars Ryan Phillippe, Emile Hirsch, and Mena Suvari in the leading roles and is directed by Mukunda Michael Dewil. Vertical fully financed the movie and has already secured North American rights, while Voltage Pictures has obtained the rights to all international territories. The film will be presented to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.
‘Kalahari’ tells the story of a couple, played by Phillippe and Suvari, who are forced to leave their Christian missionary post in the Kalahari Desert when an extremist militant group threatens their lives. They board a rickety plane piloted by a corrupt smuggler, played by Hirsch, but the plane loses power and crash-lands in an animal preserve populated by lions, leopards, and hyenas. The group must fight for their survival against both man and beast.
The cast also includes Dylan Flashner, Tristan Thompson, Jeremy Tardy, and Michaela Sasner. The film is produced by Robert Ogden Barnum, Lucas Jarach, and Christian Ackerman, with Luke Daniels, Peter Jarowey, Rich Goldberg, Kristin Harris, Nicolas Chartier, and Jonathan Deckter as executive producers. Sammi Farber serves as the film’s associate producer.
Barnum said, “Kalahari has been a great experience. Mukunda created a visual, and visceral, experience for moviegoers. And with our many collaborations, I know the project is in great hands with Vertical and Voltage taking it on.”
Vertical Partner Jarowey added, “With the launch of Vertical’s production division last year, we are thrilled to have Kalahari be one of our first fully financed films from that initiative.”
Hirsch’s recent film credits include Devil’s Workshop, Dig, The Price We Pay, State of Consciousness, Pursuit, The Immaculate Room, American Night, and Midnight in the Switchgrass. Phillippe, known for films like Crash, Gosford Park, and Cruel Intentions, has most recently been seen in titles including The Locksmith, American Murderer, I Love That for You, and MacGruber. Suvari, a BAFTA Award nominee, has most recently appeared in The Accursed and Hunt Club.
Dewil is best known for writing and directing the thriller The Immaculate Room and Collide, which also starred Phillippe.
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